This programme gives you the intellectual and practical skills you need to engage in linguistics research, either by itself, or as part of cross-disciplinary research. We offer a strong focus on theoretical understanding, drawing on the expertise of the department which is particularly strong in theory development. Additionally, you will acquire the necessary empirical skills to complement your theoretical understanding. Key research areas This programme will help you gain intellectual and practical skills to engage in linguistics research, either for its own sake, or as part of cross-disciplinary research. This highly flexible MSc draws on the University of Edinburgh’s unparalleled research expertise in Linguistics. Linguistics and English Language at Edinburgh has access to a wide breadth of research themes, with the greatest theoretical depth that you will find anywhere. This programme gives you the flexibility to choose courses and research topics to suit your academic interests and goals. The department has multiple overlapping research groups, covering everything from meaning and grammar to language evolution. This programme is unique in allowing you freedom to draw on these resources. The MSc Linguistics contains a pathway for those interested in specialising in phonetics research, equivalent to the former standalone programme in MSc Phonetics. Linguistics & English Language at Edinburgh is rated 3rd in the UK by Times Higher Education for the quality and breadth of the research using the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). (Revised 11 October 2024 to clarify the inclusion of a pathway in phonetics research) What will I learn? The key aims of the programme are to: provide integrated specialist knowledge in core areas of linguistics establish a foundation for advanced research in those areas provide a comprehensive understanding of the basic principles of research in theoretical and descriptive linguistics develop analytical skills in an interdisciplinary context Graduates from our programme will understand how to: analyse key data in core areas of linguistics theorise such data use empirical methods to test their theories You can also take advantage of the interdisciplinary department and draw on teaching and research both elsewhere in the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences and within other relevant Schools.